How to Elevate Slow Cooker Meals
The colder weather is a perfect excuse to dig out your slow cooker once again. After all, there’s nothing quite like coming back home from a long day in the cold to smell the delicious smells of a slow cooked meal. However, it’s important to ensure that you make the most of your dishes.
So, what are the best ways to elevate your slow cooker meals over the winter months? Here’s all you need to know.
Upgrade The Base Sauces
One of the great things about slow cooked meals is that they give flavors enough time to combine and unlock the full potential of a dish. However, the results will be severely limited if you opt for inferior stocks. Upgrading to Broth Masters broths doesn’t only ensure that the base sauce is packed with more flavor. It also elevates the nutritional benefits of the dish.
Another very simple trick is to use a pinch of Himalayan salt to truly unleash the full flavor of your sauces, marinades, and meat.
Cook Low & Slow
Slow cooked recipes produce tender meat and deliciously soft foods. You will notice the benefits compared to a traditional evening cooked meal. Still, there is a big difference between a slow cooked meal for four hours on a high setting and eight hours on a low setting. A top quality slow cooker that has a low setting is essential. However, it’s equally crucial to think about timings.
Putting the meal in the slow cooker in the morning gives it a full day to slowly cook in time for your evening meal. You will taste, and love, the difference.
Elevate Side Dishes
A slow cooked main dish is sure to leave your tastebuds dancing. But this can’t be an excuse to overlook the importance of side dishes. Learning to elevate your boring salad into a more substantial player will make the entire meal more memorable. It’s also a fantastic way to bulk out a meal with minimal added calories. It is also very useful when meal prepping for the week.
Better still, you can prepare the salad while completing the finishing touches on the slow cooked main dish. Waiting for cheese to melt on top is a perfect example.
Layer Foods
It is possible to throw all ingredients into the slow cooker, mix, and leave it. However, it is a far smarter move to layer ingredients. For example, chunky root vegetables should be at the bottom with leafy greens at the top. It will result in more even textures, with all ingredients getting that soft slow cooked feel. Some fresh elements can be added to taste at the end of cooking too.
You should also note that liquid does not evaporate in the slow cooker. So, you do not need to overfill with stocks or sauces. You’ll use less than you would on the stove.
Trial And Error
Finally, you should remember that you’ll probably need to tweak recipes over time. Even if you have found one that sounds great, don’t be afraid to test out slightly altered measurements or the addition of an extra spice. Once perfected, you’ll have a favorite dish for life.
